Cable supporting clamp



Jan. 8, 1935. J. H. STARR CABI JE SUPPORTING CLAMP Filed Sept. 11, 1953Imfen 0 20213 j k il Patented J an.8, 1935 e h IATZED STAT SUPPORTINGCLAW James H. Starr, Oak Park,1Ill., assignor to Electrical EngineersEquipment poration of Illino s Company, a. cor- Appncatmn s ten ber11,1933,SerialNo. 688,871 t s qlaims. (omit-ea) I The pr esent inventionrelates to cable supporting clamps of the class wherein a fieiibleretaining member is wr'apped about [the cablejbeing supported. Theinvention is worked out especially withreferenceto electric cableshaving metallic sheaths. Certain factors are] desirable j in clampswhich are to be fused with suchcableS.

These factors include theffollowingq' t 1. The clamp must not,' .e :ertlarge localized pressure upon the cable as to do so might injure theinsulation 01" the metallic sheath. H '2. The clamp must support thecable"and"prevent relative movement of the cableiand clamp even when thecable is "subjeeted to large longitudinal forces.

3. The clamp should be'suitable forthe sl lppoi't of cables varying.diameter: over a relatively wide," range due to. the fact that there areno standard outside diameters for cable, and if the clamp isinapplicable except to a specific diam eter an infinite;number of'sizesis necessary. 4. The clampshould firmly" grip the cable applying thegrip over large areaand should inaintain a reasonablyfuniform pressureover a relatively large portion of the diameter,.rega.rdless of thermalexpansion of the clamp" parts.

The principal object of the invention is to provide, asupportingclampofthe class mentioned which shall possess these severaldesired factors.

Another object of the inventionis to provide the clamp with a relativelylightgflexiblesupporting ribbonand to so arrangethejsame with referenceto the otherparts thatit will make more efl icient contactwith thesupportedl cable than has been possiblewith ribbon typeclamps heretoforeproposed. t

Another object is to provide such a structure that the same willsecurely grip the cable in all positions from 1 vertical to horizontaland thus providea firm andsecure holder for cables in all the situationsin which they may be found in practice. t I J I Stilljanother object isto provide clamps which shall be simple in construction, economical tomanufacture, highly eff cient in operation and otherwise entirelysatisfactory to the trade. j V The various features and objects of theinvention will be more fully understood upon reference to the followingdetailed description takenin connectionwith the accompanying drawingwherein preferred embodimentsof the invention two sizes are disclosed,the scope of the invention being particularlypointed out in the appendedclaims. j t H g In said dra i g ig i a s d eleva ion of sub porting lclamp constructed and arranged in accordance with the .presentinvention, the same being shown in. association with an angle ironsupport and a sheathed cable which it carries; Fig. 2 is an endelevation of the same viewed from the left as the parts are seen in Fig.1'; Fig.

3 is a similar elevation viewed from the right as theparts are seen inFig.; 1, 'but omitting the angle iron, Fig. 4 is anlelevation of aportion of the structure showing, more, particularly the .banfonsecuringone end ofjthecable ribbon to the main clamping member; ,a'nd'fFig. 5 isa View similarto' Fig. 2of a slightly modified structure suited .toholding cables of less'idiameter. Throughout these viewslike'charactersrefer to likeparts. f l

At the outset, it may be stated that the novel structurecompris esessentiallya main cable fittingclamping member and a flexible retaining'ribbon,the former being desi'gn'atedA,Af andthe latter B, B in the'different embodiments ofthe invention. The clamping member is adapted tobe secured onthe one side to a supporting' memberor structure Candon-theother side it fits snugly against the surfaceof the cable which itSupports, two sizes of cable .beingf indicated in .full lines. andjdesigiiated v respectively. B, D.

Each ribbon, B or. B,is wrapped about the clamping member, A orA", andthe associated cable, D or D", a plurality of times, three completecircular turns being shown in the embodiment more fully illustrated. Theends of the ribbonare'suitably secured to the main clamping member, oneend preferably being normally secured thereto and the other end securedin place after the, ribbon has been tightlydrawn aboutthe clampingmember and cable with the requisite numberofturnsv I}, f

Examining these parts more in detail, it will be seen; that, theclamping member A is a simple casting having a main, rather elongated,body portion 10 providedwith an upstanding web 11. o The latter isapertured at 12 forthe passageiof one or more retaining bolts 13-whichextend not only through the openings 12 b11t through similar openingsinsome part of the supporting structure C. In the instance shown, thelatter'comprises a simpleangle iron 14. and alink 13 A bolt 13 is passedthrough one of the openings 12 in the web 11 and alike opening in thelower end of the link 13 A-similar 730111.113? passes throughopenings,in theupper end of the link ,and the vertical -web of the angleironylran d Obviously secures the link to the angle iron. a other Waysof connecting the parts in place may the bolt opening. Even in theangular position iii shown, the left opening 12 might be used as well asthe central opening. These connections may be Varied asfthe @ifienentconditions o'f service 'may require.

its cable side with surfaces which provide a re entrant space for thelodging of the'cable. .T-hese surfaces comprise two angularly disposedfaces 15 and an intervening surface 315 These may talie different formsalthoughin this embodiment they" are planefaces. They extend lengthwiseof the body and in the directionef.the cablezDymen f the latter is inassembled relation. The faces theoretically make line contacts withthesheath of th e cable D. .Theirarrangement also enables l a mrnlber of"differently sized cables to "be used with the sam'eclampingmember. j

Atthis point it maybe mentioned that the .cables' D, D, are sheathedwith lead .or other material jand contain electrical conductorsar-"rangedin. any desired ".way. The cable, .in itself, "formsno. part.offthe present invention. J'Sufliceiit to. saythatitslead sheath or.other.metallic cover- "ing only' needjibe considered .sinceithej'invention "hasto fio only with'preventing undue Wearor'cutting'oriruptureiof the same, as .before indicated. orthese'reasonsthe cables DID", are shown. only 'i1'1 outline.

- "The "range'in cable..sizeisindicated clearly in "Figf2whereinthedotted circles 16 and'l'] show the outlines .of.two.cables of quitedifferent sizes.

. "Itwillbenotedthat the smaller cable, indicated bythefl'ine. 1'6,enters'further into the reentrant --space"betweenthe'faces 15 than doesthe larger cable;indicated"bythe line '17. TInfact, it practicallycontacts with the intervenin surface'lifi The cable D is ofintermed'iatesize, occupies .an intermediate positionupon the faces 15. I

"The'ri'bbomB orIBgisa flexible metallic ribbon, prefera'bly braided..The "strands which ..go to makeup the ribbonare composed of copper orlikei flexible and ductile. metal. When these .ts'trandsarebrai'dedtogether they form a jfla't .rib-

bon'which is very flexible and durable and ,yet onewhich'willmot cutinto thesheathofthe cable. "Rreferably,;the strands .of the. ribbon aretinned before being "braided into the ;final form. "or

course, a ribbon for the purposeintended may be [variously constitutedand still meetall the re- ;qu'irements of the present device.ili'r'eferably, "however, itqshould beilaterally, andlongitudinallyflexible likethebraided ribbon justjdescribem.

, At one end of .thebody.10 of theclampingmember A is a shoulderilfi."This shoulder isfprdv'i'ded with'a' plane vertical face 1"9 andan upperflat "face '20. These faces, which .are joined by an lintervening curvedsurface '20 are adapted .to re;-

.iceive the end 21 of the flexible-ribbon B; The "latter isheld to'the.bodylUby atap bolt .22 and associated "lock washer 1'25. This boltpasses 'th qugh'ian opening in theend 21'.of .the..r'ibb.on and entersa'threaded opening in the adjacent :portionioftheshoulder 18. It will'benoted that the rshoulderfaces 19, '20 are arranged atpracticallyarightangleto each'other. so. as to provide a'sharpturn' forthe ribbon as it extends u over the face 19,-overthe-gcurvedsurfacef'and then "laterally"along theface 2o. .onthetop or the body 1.0:, I V 1I The body 10 of the member A is provided on" -=the clamping member.

.ribbon extends from the saddle surface on As clearly shown the ribbon Bthen extends down around the cable D and up over the body 10 at apointadjacent to the end 21. For receiving the ribbon and properly holding itagainst undue longitudinal movement, that portion of the top of the body10 over which the ribbon passes is hollowed out to form a saddle-likesurface 24. After passing over the surface 24 the ribbon continuesthrough another turn :about :the clamping member A and cable D 'and'on'up "over-a second saddle surface 25 upon the top of the body 10 of Thefinal turn of the ,ex'tends..generally in a vertical "direction with itscorrugations extending 'l'ikewise of the body 10.

The. corrugated tface1'30iis .adapte'd to Jrece'iveithe endBIjdfIthe,binding ribbon ."B and to .make the final] connection betweenthe ribbon and the clamping member. Tobrijng about'this securing of the.endBlto'the member A,bar 32 is employed.

"This-Thar has'a longitudinal rib 33 along'its inner face. "This. .ribis accurately shaped with; reference tothe -corrugations,of the face'3'0to securely clamp 'f'the "intervening ribbon end "31 in place."Thefloar"32 is suitably'aper'tured "for the passage of 'two"tap"bolt's3'4 which pass freely throughithe .openings. in the .bar into threadedengagement .with'tapped openings "in the adjacent shoulder 1129;, I.'-ock;washers"35' cooperatewith the bolts? f tov press 'tliibat32firmly against the ribbon end "31. IThelatter, .duejto the pressureapplied by theibanft'akes a shape conforming'to thecorrugatedj;f.ace'30' and isfirm'ly heldin place uponlthe casting .hbythebar. The';bar"32 and associated partscon'st'itute a clampforthebraided ribboniB.

Obviously when .cables ofsmaller diameter than "the cab'lefDare'employedwith'theclamping member. A,1't he free end" 31 .of .theribbon willextend farther outbeyondthe'hol'ding 'bar32. On :the otherhandji'f thediameter Io'f the cablebelarger than theoneiillustrated' then thefreeend31 of "the ribbon }will ibe shorter.

In-the mddificat'ionfshown 'inlFig. 5, the .mem- ,ber AF-has la. web 11:just as"bef.ore, but thev body 'f36l'is narrower and the reentrantsurface is provided'hy slightly curved faces 3'1, and the face 38 whichunites thdfaces'li'l is at a considerable distance from the-lowerextremities ofthe'body i 36. I

.As are'sult of this shaping of. the .reen'trant ,por- 'ti'on. of' the'boTdy36 ,-'iti is possible to fitthe clamp- ,ing memberto. cables ofmuchsmaller diameter 'thanthose illustrated in the other'figures. .Asshown, the cableD' contacts withthe. surfaces 3'? ,near' their "lower.ends. On theother'hand, if .a

cable'hav'ing a diametersuh as. indicatedby the line "38 were' used,flthen' the .contacting points would'be furtherup along the surfaces.317. A still further example of cablesize.isillustratedby the dotted-line 40. 'In th-islinstance -.the cable lies well, within'the openingprovided .bythereentrant surfaces 37 and .more nearly contactwiththesurface38.

iIn this form .of 'the. invention, which .is really but a smaller sizeof the embodiment illustrated .in the other. 1igur.es, .the.ribbon B' issecured at 4 plate 32 with the; associated screws34 and wash' :ers 35..Inothenwords, the 'wayin which the rib- 'bon B. is secured totheiclaniping memberA" isthe same asin the case of the ribbon B andtheclamp- .ing member A. -.The principal purpose of illustrating themodification is to show how. readily a large number "ofcables ofvaryingsizes can'be fitted by a limited number of standard sizes ofcablesupportawhen constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

From a simpleiinspection of the drawing, and

moreipa'rticularly Figs. 1 and'3, it will be seen thatiat the points atwhich the ribbon 'Bta'ng'entially engages the cable, D or D, thedirection of the ribbon is substantially at? right angles to thelongitudinally superficial elements thatgo to makeup the surface of thecable; In other words,

the approach and recession of the ribbon are at substantially rightangles tothe axis of the cable- .This insures less strain, other thingsbeing equal,

thanwould existwitha more acute angle [of approach and recession, suchas we find in some prior art structures. The less strain allows alighter, and hence a more flexible, ribbonto be used.

It should also be noted that to obtain the maximum advantage in theoperation of the clamp, it is important that the flexible ribbonmaintain intimate contact with the cable sheath at all times, even whenthe cable is displaced slightly in a longitudinal direction relative tothe clamp, as might occur were the cable shifted from a horizontalposition to a vertical one while held by the clamp, or were the cable tosettle after being initially installed in a vertical position.

I Since the ribbon illustrated is flexible both laterally andlongitudinally, any longitudinal movement of the cable relative to theclamp will not result in distortion of the ribbon relative to the cablebut will leave it in full width contact with the cable surface. This isin decided conthe cable to be supported and in turn to be setrast to astiff band which is inflexible laterally. Such a band whenever there isrelative movement between the cable and the clamp willmore or lessdisengage the surface of the cable and thereby reduce the area ofcontact between the ribbon and sheath. As stated, applicantsconstruction avoids this.

In carrying out my invention, it will be ap-.

parent that many alterations and modifications may be made in thestructures disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the exact detailspresented, but aim to-cover by the terms of the appended claims allthose alterations and modifications which rightly come within thepurview of my invention.

I claim: i

1. A cable supporting clamp comprising a main clamping member adapted toengage one side of cured to a suitable support, and a laterally andlongitudinally flexible supporting ribbon secured at one end to saidmember and adapted to be wrapped substantially helically a plurality oftimes about the assembled cable and main clamping member and to have itsfree end finally secured to said member while remaining in closeengagement with the supported cable throughout their contacting areaseven though the cable be displaced slightly in a longitudinal directionrelative to the clamp. i i

2. A cable supporting clamp comprising a main clamping memberhaving areentrant surface for ported and adaptedlin turn. to be secured to asuitable support, and a laterally and longitudinally flexible supportingribbon secured at one end to said member and adaptedto be wrappedsubstantially helically a plurality of times about the assembled cableandmain clamping member and to have its free endfinally secureo'lto saidmemberwhile remaining in close engagement with thesuppo 'ted cable inall relative positions of theparts, said ribbon extending at itspointsof tangency with the cable surface in directions eachsubstantially atright angles to the longitudinal elements'of spective points. M l

3. A cablesupporting clainp comprising'a main clamping member adapted tobe secured on one side to a suitable support and having on its otherside a reentrant surface for lodging the cable to be supportedfsaidreentrant surfacecomprising at least two' smears cable engaging facesextending lengthwise of said member and the cable positioned therein,said faces being tangential to longitudinal elements of the cablesurface when the latter is in assembled position, and alaterally andlongitudinally flexible supporting ribbon secured at one end to saidmember and adapted to be wrapped substantially helically a plurality oftimes about the assembled cable and main clampingmember and to have itsfree end finally secured to said member while remaining in closeengagement with the supported cable in all operative positions of theparts.

4. A cable supporting clamp comprising a main clamping member adapted tobe secured on one side to a suitable support and having on its otherside smooth reentrant walls for engaging with the surface of the cableto be secured thereto, a laterally and longitudinally flexiblesupporting ribbon secured atone end to one side of said'clamping memberand thence passing over the outer surface of said clamping member to itsopposite side and thence, when a cable is being held, around the cableand clamping member substantially helically a plurality of times andfinally again across said clamping member, and means for attaching saidribbon to said. clamping member after it has finally passed across thesame.

5. A cable supporting clamp comprising a main clamping member adapted tobe secured on one side to a suitable support and having on its otherside smooth reentrant walls for engaging with the surface of the cableto be secured thereto, a laterally and longitudinally flexiblesupporting ribbon passed around said clamping member and the associatedcable substantially helically a plurality of times with its endsextending across the outer surface of said clamping member near itsopposite ends and then perpendicularly thereto over its sides with sharpturns at the points of change in direction, and means for firmlysecuring the ribbonends to sides of said clamping member.

6. A cable supporting clamp comprising a main clamping member adapted tobe secured on one sidev to a suitable support and having on the oppositeside reentrant walls for engaging with the outer surface of the cable tobe secured thereto, a flexible braided metallic ribbon passed aroundsaid clamping member and the associated cable a plurality of timeswith'its ends extending across the one surface of said clamping membernear its opposite ends and then perpendicularly firmly; securing theribbon ends :toisaid sides, said :ribbo'n having tinned ends forthe'better securing of :said :iibbon to said clamping member.

:7. A cable supporting clamp comprising azmain im'ember adapted'tobesecured'on oneside tola :ssuitable'support and having on its other 'sidea :reentrant space for receiving the cable, said space'beingbounded byangularly disposed surfaces, two at-least of which surfaces are convexlycurved. outwardly relative tothe body of the clamp,

said angularly disposed curved surfaces being smoothandserving -toengagethe cable along lengthwise elements of the same, and a laterally andlongitudinally flexible ribbo'nfor tightly'bind- ,ing the cable to saidmainmember in said reentrant space against said angularly disposedl'gagementatlall daimeawith said'inain member and thefribbon tums.'.f.:' f' i' 1 v A cable supporting.clampzcomprising a mainmemberiadapted toa be secured :on'one :side to :a

suitable. support .and vhaving on its-other side a reentrant spaceqf orreceiving :the cable, said space being-bounded on oppositesidesby-itworangularly disposedsmoothvfaces both convexly curvedrout- .Wardlyrelativelto the body of the c1amp,:.-said tangularly disposed smoothcurved surfacesserving to engage the cable along lengthwise elements "ofthe same, and a laterally and longitudinallyflexible ribbon for tightlybinding the cable to said main member in-said reentrant space'againstsaid .angularly disposed smoothcurved surfaces, said. ribbon-havingseveral turns, each said turn 'embracingthe. cable and said main member,said smooth curved surfaces permitting the securing of cables of greatlyvarying diameters intight engagement at:a11:.times withsaidmain member20 .and the. ribbon turns. a t

a JAMES H. STARR.

